Kudos: Doctoral student wins AERA Shark Tank competition
Xiao-Yin Chen, a doctoral student in the Department of Educational Psychology, recently won the American Educational Research Association’s Division C Shark Tank: Graduate Students Pitch Equity and Inclusion Focused Research Designs competition for her research presentation on the experiences of Appalachian students in college preparatory programs.
In a similar format to the popular Shark Tank television show, Chen and Licia Henneberg, a first-year undergraduate psychology student at the University of Kentucky, presented a five-minute video pitch of their research project—Central Appalachian High Schoolers’ Experiences in College Preparatory Programs—to a panel of judges and a live audience, who voted on the proposals.
In the presentation, Chen and Henneberg examined stereotype threat and imposter feelings related to Appalachian students’ sense of belonging in college preparatory programs. According to Chen, Appalachian high school students are often stereotyped as lacking education and resources.
“As an Appalachian native, I hope this project helps to change the narrative about Appalachian students by better understanding and challenging some of the experiences they face in high-achieving contexts,” Chen said.